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Arraignment postponed in dual homicide by vehicle

February 4, 2013

An over-the-road trucker charged with a double homicide by vehicle over Thanksgiving weekend that closed Interstate 70 near the South Junction for several hours asked the court provide a Russian-language interpreter for his formal arraignment.

Yevgeniy Nik Bugreyev, 44, of West Sacramento, Calif., a Russian national, told police he did not remember the crash that also injured four people and investigators speculate he may have fallen asleep.

Killed in the Nov. 24 wreck were Karen Babka, 57, and her daughter, 21-year-old Kaitlin Babka, both of Hughesville, Md.

Injured in a third vehicle were driver Darlene Gray of Washington, Brandy Lynn Gray, 33, her daughter, Summer Gray, 10, and another child.

Bugreyev’s tractor-trailer was hauling bagged rock salt on plastic-wrapped pallets, according to receipts produced at the trucker’s preliminary hearing.

Washington County Judge John DiSalle postponed Bugreyev’s arraignment for about a week until a translator certified in courtroom work can be assigned to his case.

The judge said Bugreyev’s public defender would like the case to be placed on the May trial list.

The defendant is being held in the county jail on $1 million bond.

In addition to the homicide-by-vehicle charges, Bugreyev is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle in connection with the injuries to the foursome and several summary citations. Bugreyev told the judge he has a green card, a federal document that allows him to work in the United States.